Sumner, Ada girls run-rule McComb

ADA - The unbeaten Ada girls softball team plated seven runs in the first inning against visiting McComb and cruised to a 13-2 non-league victory Tuesday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 4-0 with the win while McComb dropped to 1-3.
Sophomore Ashley Sumner pitched a five-inning complete game and also smacked three singles plus a double to earn the win.
"Ashley did a real nice job," said second-year head coach Ken Jochims. "She got ahead and threw strikes and got her first varsity win, which is exciting.
"McComb put a pretty good one on us last year, so it is nice to put one back on them," he added.
Sumner scattered six singles and gave up no earned runs. She struck out six and walked none.
"It is nice to have a one-two pitching punch," said Jochims, who gave ace Alexis Amburgey the day off from hurling. "Sumner had four hits, so she had a real good all-around game."
The Bulldogs put the game virtually out of reach with the seven-run opening frame. "We put the ball in play early and made things happen," said Jochims. An RBI double by Ashley Windle highlighted the inning.
In the second, Ada added a run on a dropped fly ball. The inning might have been bigger if not for a baserunner being hit by a ground ball in the hole for an out.
In the third, Sumner pitched around a single and a hit batter with the aid of a good throw by catcher Windle that nabbed a would-be base stealer.
In the bottom of the third, Katelyn Guagenti ignited another big inning with a solid single to center field. Shortstop Quinn High beat out a bunt single, and Guagenti came around to score on an error.
Sumner drilled a double to deep left field, and Megan Simon singled up the middle to drive in High. After a groundout, Kaylee Spangler spanked a single to center to plate the speedy Simon.
Speedy Alexis Gonzaga then drove an RBI triple to right-center field to cap a five-run inning that gave the hosts a 13-0 cushion.
"Spangler and Guagenti are really hitting the ball well, having good at bats and driving the ball middle away," noted Jochims.
McComb got on the scoreboard in the fourth. A single, an error and a walk loaded the bases. A single and a sacrifice fly to right field scored two Panther runs to cut the deficit to 13-2.
In the Ada fourth, Sumner singled for her fourth hit but was left on base.
Then in the top of the fifth, Sumner induced three ground ball outs, the last two going from first sacker Spangler to the pitcher, to finish the run-rule win.
"We had a few late defensive lapses, but by and large we have done a nice job catching the ball," said Jochims. "We are not going to strike out 10 a game, so we have to play well defensively."
Ada committed just one error and knocked out 14 hits, led by Sumner's four safeties. Simon and Guagenti each singled twice and Simon knocked in two runs, while Guagenti collected one RBI.
Spangler amassed two singles and three RBI. Gonzaga tripled, singled and drove in two. High had an RBI with a single, and Windle plated one with a double.

Ada opens league play by hosting always-tough backyard rival Allen East Thursday at 5 p.m. in a key encounter.
"Allen East is one of the teams to beat in the Northwest Conference," Jochims offered. "Bill (Mattevi) does a nice job and they have gotten better every year. We have to improve our baserunning and some situational things. The schedule gets tougher now."